Civil War BB Gun Competition

[Southron Sr.]

I have two Grandsons, ages 8 & 9 that would like to compete in the BB Gun Matches at the Spring Nationals. Here are some questions I have:

1. What target(s) is used in these matches.
2. What is the range(s), i.e., distance.
3. How many shots (Sighters and for Score)?
4. What are the prizes/medals given to the winners?
5. Is there any particular model or brand of BB gun that is a constant match winner?

THANKS!

[lmcmahon]

Section 38 of our rules will answer your questions.

[Southron Sr.]

Dear Linwood:

THANKS for your reply.

Unfortunately, I live way out in the country and my internet connection is by an ancient phone line. This means that my connection is very s-l-o-w. When it rains, I sometimes lose my internet connection for a couple of days!

Every time I try to download the rules off of this website, my connection "times out."

So, could you or someone answer my original questions on the BB.

THANKS!!!
Southron

[lmcmahon]

Send me your correct email address and I'll email the Youth competition section to you.

[John Holland]

N-SSA Rules Updated January 2011

SECTION 38: YOUTH COMPETITION

38.1 OBJECTIVE
The objectives of youth competition with BB guns and pellet rifles are:
a. To promote the education of young dependents and guests of the N-SSA in the
history of the Civil War by increasing their participation in N-SSA activities.
b. To provide an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of firearms safety and
marksmanship through friendly competition.
c. To promote the development of a sense of fair play and personal achievement
while providing family entertainment during skirmish weekends.

38.2 ELIGIBILITY (amended 08/07)
All dependents and guests of N-SSA members who are under the age of 15 years are
eligible to participate in Youth Competition in two age classifications:
Juniors ? ages 4 years through 10 years
Seniors ? ages 11 years through 14 years.
The competitor’s age for purposes of eligibility and classification shall be his or her age
24 hours prior to the competition. If a competitor’s 15th birthday falls between March 1
and the day of the Spring Nationals competition, he or she shall be allowed to compete in
individual and team competition at the Spring Nationals only. If a competitor’s 15th
birthday falls between July 17 and the date of the Fall National competition, he or she shall
be allowed to compete in individual and team competition at both National Skirmishes for
that year.

38.3 EQUIPMENT AND AMMUNITION (amended 08/07)
a. Youth Competition is limited to the use of pellet rifles or BB guns that fire only one pellet
or BB and requires manual action by the competitor to cock and chamber a round. These
arms may be of lever, pump, or break action. Only fixed post or bead front sights and open
or peep rear sights are authorized. Rear sights may be adjustable for both windage and
elevation.
b. No optical sights are permitted. Stocks must be factory installed except that they may be
lengthened or shortened, provided the general contour of the original stock is maintained.
c. No pistol grip stocks are permitted.
d. No Youth Competition arm shall weight more than seven pounds.
e. The trigger pull shall be not less than two pounds when measured in the same manner as
black powder firearms.
f. Ammunition is limited to .177 caliber steel or lead BB and .177 caliber lead pellets.
3
8.4 TARGETS
All Youth Competition shall be fired at a target distance of 25 feet from the firing line.

38.4.1 INDIVIDUAL YOUTH COMPETITION TARGETS
Individual Youth Competition shall be fired using a 10-bull NRA-AR 4/10 target. Youth
Team Competition shall consist of at least three events of breakable targets. The targets for
each event shall be uniform.

38.4.2 YOUTH TEAM COMPETITION TARGETS (added 01/09)
a. CLAY PIGEONS – 25 feet, rapid fire. 60mm pigeons (Moskeet).
1. Twelve Moskeet on a backer, mounted with trash bag ties or wire clips, color
side out.
2. Two hanging Moskeet per competitor, color side out.
b. NECCO WAFERS – 25 feet, rapid fire.
1. Twelve Moskeet on a backer, mounted with trash bag ties or wire clips, color
side out.
2. Two hanging Moskeet per competitor, color side out.
c. CLAY POTS – 25 feet, rapid fire.
1. Twelve Moskeet on a backer, mounted with trash bag ties or wire clips, color
side out.
2. Two hanging Moskeet per competitor, color side out.
d. WHITE PLASTER DISCS – 25 feet, rapid fire.
1. Two hanging 2-3/4" white plaster discs per competitor.
2. Two hanging Moskeet per competitor, color side out.

38.5 YOUTH TEAM COMPETITION (amended 01/09)
a. Youth Team Competition shall be composed of teams of three to five individuals of the
same age classification. The size of each team shall be determined by the Youth
Competition Director, depending on the number of competitors available. In order to fill
out teams, it is permissible for a Junior Competitor to shoot on a Senior team. Senior
Competitors may not compete on Junior teams.
b. Youth Team Competition at a Spring National Skirmish shall be composed of competitors
from the same team or region when possible.
c. Youth Team Competition at a Fall National Skirmish shall be held among teams
representing the several Regions of the Association. A Region may enter more than one
team.
d. Each Youth Team Competition event shall consist of events at least three minutes in
duration, using breakable targets that are uniform for a given event. The time necessary to
hit all the targets for the event shall be the team time for the event. A target is considered
hit if it is missing a fragment, leaking or marked as a result of the impact of a fired BB or
pellet, as verified by Skirmish Staff personnel.
e. A penalty shall be added to the total event time for each unhit target. The penalty per unhit
target shall be calculated according to the following formula: 180 seconds divided by the
number of targets for the event. Use Table 27.2c Unhit Target Penalty Chart for calculating
the penalty.
f. A team’s final score shall be the aggregate of the times, including penalties, for each event
of the competition. If a team’s final score ties with another team’s score, the following
tiebreaking procedure shall be used:
1. The team with the shortest time on the smallest target wins.
2. If still tied, compare times on the next smallest target and step through all events if
necessary. If two teams are still tied after all event times have been compared,
both teams shall be declared the winner and given equal ranking.
g. Each competing team shall provide its own time and safety officer. Each team shall have at
least one adult coach immediately behind the firing line for a team event. Any competitor
who needs individual assistance shall be allowed one adult coach.
h. All Youth Team Competition shall be fired from the offhand position. This requirement
may be waived for the benefit of a competitor with physical limitations.

38.6 INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION (amended 01/09)
a. Youth Individual Competition shall be fired in relays of 30 minutes duration each. If a
Youth Competition arm malfunctions during a relay, it may be repaired or replaced by an
adult, but no extra time shall be allowed to complete the relay.
b. During Youth Individual Competition, an adult shall accompany each competitor on the
line.
c. Individual targets shall be scored by a minimum of three adult scorers.
d. All Youth Individual Competition shall be fired from the offhand position. This
requirement may be waived for the benefit of a competitor with physical limitations.
e. Scoring Targets ? Each shot shall be given the value of the scoring ring in which the
leading edge of the shot hole (closest to the center) is located. The score will be from 0 to
10 for each shot, with a maximum total of 100. A shot hole, the leading edge of which
comes in contact with the outside of the bullseye or scoring rings of the target is given the
higher value. If a competitor fails to hit the target, or hits outside the scoring rings, that shot
will be counted as a miss (zero points). A scoring gauge will be used to determine the value
of close shots. The higher value where the flange of the gauge touches the scoring ring
except when the BB gun “outward” scoring gauge is used, in which case, the higher value is
awarded when the flange fails to touch the outside edge of the next scoring ring out.
f. Scoring gauge limits ? Outward scoring gauges will measure between 0.421 and 0.423
inches. These are identified as blue plugs.
g. When using the plug for deciding the value of a shot, a second scorer should be used to
decide the value of the shot(s) if questioned by the first scorer. If two scorers cannot agree,
a third person will make the decision.
h. Hits on wrong bullseye ? Hits on the wrong bullseye when there are more than the required
number of hits on one bullseye and fewer than the required number on another bullseye on
the same target shall be given the total value of the score for the entire target, minus a
penalty of one point for each shot on the wrong bullseye, as long as there are no more than
the required number of total hits. Penalty points shall be deducted equal to the value of the
highest scoring hit(s) when there are more than the required number of hits on a target.
i. Excessive hits ? If more than the required number of hits appear on a target, any shot that
can be identified as having been fired by a shooter other than the shooter assigned to that
target shall not be scored. If a shooter, through his or her error, fires more than the required
number of shots, the highest value hits over and above the required number shall not be
counted. In addition, one point shall be deducted from the total score for each extra hit.
j. Tie breakers ? Ties shall be broken in the following manner:
? By the greatest number of center shots (a hole touching the 10 ring but not touching the
edge of the 9 ring
? By the greatest number of shots of the next highest value
? By the highest score on the last (1) bullseye, including center shots; then by the highest
score on the next highest value, etc.
? If none of these steps breaks the tie, the scores are declared a tie and the competitors
given equal ranking.

38.7 SAFETY
a. During Individual Youth Competition, each competitor shall have an adult in place to
supervise safe competition.
b. During Youth Team Competition, each team shall have at least one adult safety officer.
c. During individual and team events, safety glasses shall be worn by both the shooter(s) and
the adult safety officer/coach.
d. If a competitor acts in an unsafe manner and has not responded to correction, the competitor
may be removed from the firing line and barred from competing during the remainder of
the competition.
e. Prior to leaving the firing line, each competitor shall, under adult supervision, either remove
all BBs/pellets from their firearm or put the arm into a case.

38.8 AWARDS (amended 08/07)
a. Youth Team Competition awards shall be given to each team member of the top three
placing teams in each age classification.
b. Individual Youth Competition awards shall be presented as follows:
Juniors: Six places.
Seniors: Three places pellet rifle; six places BB gun.

38.9 LIMITATIONS OF GUIDELINES
The foregoing guidelines are for use during National Skirmishes. Youth Competition at Regional
Skirmishes is not bound by these guidelines except as to the safety requirements